Dispensing machine



oct. 9, 1928.

A. F.4 FILES DISPENSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 1927 I Patented Oct. 9, 1928-.`

. UNITED -sTA TES ADINO r. 'FiLE-s, orl MAUMEE, oHIo.

nIsPnNsrNG MAcnrNE.

Application leg Februaryl, 1927. Serial No. 167,817.

My invention has tor its object to provide an ecient means for VVdispensing different quantities of substances. of different kinds as may be required. The invention is particularly adapted for dispensing powdered or paste materials at intervals ottime. `Thus the invention may be used inconnection with filling and` wrapping machines y wherein receptacles ot' various lrinds are filled. l

The invention particularly has for its object to provide aj hopper mechanism having means for maintaining the material that is dispensed by the mechanism in proper condition to obtain a uniform'delivery of the material as well as the uniform consistency where a paste material is dispensed, or a uniform compaction where a powdered or iin'ely subdivided material is dispensed.

The invention may be contained in dispensing machines of different forms and which are' used for dispensing great variety of materials. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, l have selected a structure containing the invention for substantially uniformly subdividing a material and which may be used in conjunction with other mechanisms for manipulating packets orr boxes or bags according to the character ot the material to be dispensed. The structureselected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawing and is described hereinalter.

Fig. l of the drawing is a side view of the dispensing machine selected for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment ot my invention.V Fig. 2 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 2-2 indicated in Fig. l. Fig. 3 illustrates a dispensing plate that reciprocates to receive andY discharge different quantities oi: the material that is to bedispensed. Fig. l is atop view of a hopper, a part being shown removed to y illustra-te a part of the interior of the hopper. Fig. 5 illustrates a view ot a section ot the spindle that extends through the hopper. Fig. 6 illustrates a side viewvot a part of the spindle and shows' gne of the adjustable blades for regulating the movement-oit' the rmaterialto the dispensing plate to maintain the material in the proper conditionor delivery in uniform amounts. Fig. Tillustrates an end view of the lower-most vane which deiinitely controls the amount or the subdivided portions ot the material that is deliveredfrom the machine.

VIn the form of construction shown in the drawings, a powdered material is selected for purpose of illustration as the material that `is to be dispensed,'it being understood, n

however, that a great many materials may be dispensed by the use of the machine shown or by modifications thereof. y .v

The parts of Ahe machine are supported on a frame 1. A hopper 2 is located f on the framel and is provided with a spindle 3 that extends from the topto the bottom of the hopper. The spindle 3 isrotatably supported in a bar l that is secured to the upper edge of the hopper. The spindle 3 is rotated by ya suitable mechanism such as the bevel gears '5 that are driven by means ot asprocket 6,- a sprocket chain 7 and a sprocket wheel 8. A plurality of blades or vanes 1 0 areV secured to the spindle 3. form preferably slightly twisted like the vanes of a propeller wheel and alsok extending at an angle other than90 degrees from the spindle 3. lf desired the edges ofthe vanes l() may be curved. Each vane is provided with an enlarged end as at ll, having a threadedopening for receiving a screw. The spindle The vanes 10 are curvedin 3 may lhave plane surfaces, that is, it may be square in its cross section and be provided with openings through which bolts may be inserted and threaded into. the openings in the enlarged ends V1l of the vanes.. Thus the screws l2 may be passed through the openings l?, formed in the spindle 3 rand threaded into the ends 11 of the vanes l() and secured in position on -one of the plane surfaces of the spindle 3. The center lines of the vanes or the cords of the curved edges of thel vanes are located at an angle other than degrees to the planes of the surfaces of the spindle against which the ends 11j of the vaneslO are drawn by the screws'lQ. Thus the vanes 10' may be located at different angles with, re-

spect tothe spindle 3 by turning them about the axes of the screws 12 before the screws l2 are linally tightened to secure the vanes in their positions. By this arrangement certain of the vanes may be located soL as to merely cause distribution of the material 'uniformly `throughout the hopper at ,desired depths of the material within the hopper or the planes may be so arrangedthat they material will be lmaintained looseI at desired depths or the material may be compacted to various degrees. lVhere line powder is being dispensed the humidity of the atmosphere will produce varying compactness according to the adherency of lthe powder. This will cause the the machine.

dispensing of different amounts of the-powder on days when the atmosphere is humid from that that is dispensed during the days when the atmosphere is dry. Thus by my invention an adjustment of two or thi-ee blades will cause a uniform delivery ofthe material notwithstanding the changes in the atmosphere. Also, by this arrangement materials of different forms may be dispensed and handled by the machine.

i In order to deliver the material in' substantially exact .quantities from the hopper 2 a dispensing plate 15 is reciprocately moved through the lower end of the hopper. The dispensing plate may be located on the bottom of the hopper and reciprocated by any suitable means, such as, the link 16 that may be connected to one end of the plate and to a crank shaft 17. The plate 15 is provided with an opening 18 of the desiredshape according to the form in which it is desired to mold the material as itis being dispensed by the inachine. The thickness of the plate may also be varied to produce the material in the desired form when it is finally delivered from Thus the material may be conipacted as may be desired in the opening 18 of the plate 15 and in the reciprocatory movements of the plate 15 may be delivered in the particular molded form according to the thickness of the plate and dimensions and shape of the opening 18 and also delivered in desired uniform quantities or portions,

As the plate 15 is reciprocated, that portion of the plate in which the opening is located is brought into close proximity to the lower end of the spindle 3 where the material thatonters the opening 18 in the plate is subject to the control or the adjustment of the varies that are secured to the spindle. Tn order to produce the desired compaction within the opening, a foot member 19 is secured to the lower end of the spindle 3 by means of one of the screws 12. The foot member 19 is adapted to pass over that portion of the plate 15 that has the opening 18, and islocatedin close proximity and may be adjusted so as to be located in contact with the plate. The under surface of the foot member 19, when it is desired to compact the material within the opening 18 of the plate, is inclined upwards and towards, with reference to the direction of rotation of the spindle 3, and so as to gather a portion of the material located in the bottom of the hopper and force it into the opening. The amount of compaction that will thus be produced by the material that is forced into the opening will depend upon the angle of inclination of the foot member 19, also the amount of the material that is thus placed within the opening`18 will be dependent upon the angle ofinclination of the under surface of the foot member 19. Tn the reciprocating: movements of the plate 15 the opening 18 is located in position so that the foot member ressens will pass over it and thev movements of the parts of the machine are so timed as to cause this movement once or twice over that portion of the platehaviiig the opening18, usually but one sweep is sufficient to produce the uniform compaction and fillingV of the opening. The shaft 17, to which the link loisconnected, is provided with a sprocket wheel 28 which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 24 to a suitable sprocket wheel located on the shaft 25 to which thesprocket wheel 8 is con# nected. The sprocket chain 24C may be also connected to a sprocket wheel 26. The plate 15 passes through openings located in the side wal-ls of the hopper 2V and the powder or other' material is limited thereby between the planes of the upper and lower surfaces Vof the plate and the plate substantially fits the openings.

Thus l have 'provided means whereby a uniform amount of material may be delivered from the machine notwithstanding variations in the humidity of the vtemperature where such variation will modify one or more of y the physical characteristics of the material.

lf the material is to be compacted in tablet form it may be found necessary to forcibly move the' material from the opening` of the plate. @n the other-hand, the quick and rapid movements of the'reciprocating meinbcr may be suilicientto discharge thematerial. Also, if the material is not suiiiciently compacted it may'scatter by rea-son ofthe saine movement of the reciprocated member. The reversal of direction of movement of the reciprecatory plate will cause` the material to drop from the plateI at a definitepoint unless the material ifs-compacted too much. quently, r.vhere a line powder havingsome adherent characteristics is to be dispensed, and particularly under certain conditions of moisture or humidity, or when an oil, although in very Asmall portions, constitutes a Aiwi Y part of the mixture, l have found it is necesy,

sary to provide means for causing the separation of the material within the opening 18 from the plate. Tn the form of construction shown, the plate 15 is made elastic and at the end of its outward stroke, with referenceto the movement of that portion of the plate yhaving the opening 18, the end of the plate 15 engages a fineer'Ql thatis pivotally connected to a part of the supporting frame 1. The end of the finger 21 is turned towards the plate so that the end of the plate engages the part i.

andthematerial will drop from the plate. The form of thematerial will conform to the shape in Which it is molded by the opening 18 in the plate provided the compaction is sutlicient. rlhe required compaction Will, of course, vary according to the adherency of the material.

The plate may be provided with an opening 22 into which the finger 21 may slip to suddenly release the plate. l

I claim:

l. In a dispensing machine for dispensing separated quantities of a substance, a hopper and spindle located in the center of the hopper, a toot member secured to the end of the spindle, means for adjustably locating 1 the sides of the foot member relative'to the axes` of the spindle, a member having an opening for receiving the Lmaterial and means for locating the opening below the toot member to receive material compacted in the opening by t-he toot member.

2. In a dispensing machine for dispensing separated quantities of a substance, a hopper, a spindle extending to the bottom of the hopper, a plurality of blades connected to the spindle, certain of said blades bent tor raisy ing the material in the hopper and other of the blades bent for lowering the material in the hopper, a plate having an opening located at the bottom of a hopper and movaole through the lower end oii'thek hopper, means` Vfor reciprocating the said plate so as to place the part of the plate having the opening alternatively in position on the inside and outside of the hopper.

3. In a dispensing machine. for dispensing separated quantities of avsubstance in containers. a hopper for containing the material, a plate having an opening located at the bottom of the hopper and movable through the hopper, means for reciprocating the plate so as to place the portion oi the plate having the opening alternatively Within the hopper and on the Outside of the hopper, means for forcing the material into the saidopening vvhen the portion containing it is located Within the hopper, and means for jarring the ma-V terial packed in the said opening therefrom rWhen the portion ofthe plate having the opening is located on the outside ofthe hopper.

4. In a dispensing machine for dispensing Vseparated quantities of ya substance in containers, a hopper for containing the material, a plate having an opening located at the bottom of the hopper and movable throughthe hopper, means for reciprocating theplate so as .to place the portion of the plate having the 'separated quantities'oie a substance in containers, a hopper for containing the material, ya plate having an opening located at the bottom of the hopper and movable through the hopper, means for reciprocating the plat-e so as to place theportion of the'platehaving the opening alternatively Within the hopper and on the outside of the hopper, means for forcing the material into the said opening when n the portionv containing it is located Within the hopper, the end portion of the plate having a second opening, a cam member engaged by the end of the plate and for bending the plate until the cam member rolls into the second opening to ar the material from the plate.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification. n Y

' ADINO F.FILES. 

